86.02.010 Citation.

This title shall be known as the “zoning regulations of the City of Coronado” and may be cited as such, or as the “zoning ordinances” and will be referred to hereinafter as “this title,” and sections or portions hereinafter referred to shall refer to sections, chapters, or portions of this title unless otherwise specifically identified. (Ord. 1791)

86.02.020 Purpose.

This title is hereby adopted to regulate the use of buildings, structures and land as between industry, business, residents and open space; to regulate the location, height, bulk, number of stories and size of buildings and structures; the size and use of lots, yards, courts and other open spaces; the percentage of a lot which may be occupied by a building or structure; the intensity of land use; and to establish requirements for off-street parking and loading; to establish and maintain building setback lines; to provide for the request and disposition of zone boundaries; and further, to otherwise implement the adopted General Plan of the City to serve and protect the public health, welfare and general safety of the citizens of Coronado pursuant to applicable provisions of laws of the State of California. (Gov. Code § 65000 et seq.; Gov. Code § 65850 et seq.)

86.02.030 To implement General Plan.

It is also intended that the adoption of this title will implement a substantial portion of the adopted General Plan of the City of Coronado; that the adoption of this title is deemed to be one of several formal actions necessary to preserve and improve Coronado as a beautiful, pleasant, residential community in which to live, work, shop, and pursue leisure time activities; that the adoption of this title is deemed to be necessary in carrying out the total community growth objectives, residential development objectives, commercial development objectives, service development objectives, community facilities objective and the circulation system objectives of the adopted General Plan; that the adoption of this title does not restrict the desirability or necessity of amending the General Plan and the provisions of this title related to the General Plan amendments, from time to time and as the situation may warrant, to ensure consistency between the General Plan and the provisions of this title. (Gov. Code § 65300)

86.02.040 Application and interpretation.

In interpreting and applying the provisions of this title, the Department and the Commission shall construe the provisions to be minimum requirements. Where this title imposes greater restrictions than are imposed or required by other rules, regulations or ordinances, the provisions of this title shall control.

86.02.050 Permitted uses only.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no building or part thereof or other structure shall be erected, altered, added to or enlarged, nor shall any land, building, structure or premises be used, designated or intended to be used for any purpose or in any manner other than is included among the uses hereinafter listed as permitted in the zoning district in which such building, land or premises is located.

86.02.060 Height limits.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no building or part thereof or structure shall be erected, reconstructed or structurally altered to exceed in height the limit hereinafter designated for the district in which such building is located.

86.02.070 Open space – Encroachment.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no building or part thereof or structure shall be erected, nor shall any existing building be altered, enlarged or rebuilt or moved into any district, nor shall any open space be encroached upon or reduced in any manner, except in conformity to the yard, building site area, and building location regulations hereinafter designated for the district in which such building or open space is located.

86.02.080 Open space – Other building.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no yard or other open space provided about any building for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this title shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for any other building, and no yard or other open space on one building site shall be considered as providing a yard or open space for a building on any other building site.

86.02.090 Yards – Obstructions.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, every required front, side or rear yard shall be open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky.

86.02.100 School, church, institution.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to provisions of this title, in any R Zone, no building shall be hereafter erected, structurally altered or used for a school, church, institution or other regulations of this title, unless such buildings are removed at least 15 feet from every boundary line of a property included in any R Zone; and provided, that no front yard, as required in the zone, nor any side yard as required above, shall be used for recreation or parking purposes.

86.02.110 Manufacturing or Commercial Zones – Allowing nonprincipal or nonaccessory uses.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, where a use is not specifically contained in the list of principal or accessory uses allowed in any Commercial or Manufacturing Zone, but is of the same character and intensity as other uses listed, the Planning Commission may allow the establishment of that use, upon request, provided the Commission makes the following determinations:

A. That the establishment of the use will be in accordance with the purposes of the zone in which it is proposed.

B. That the use will be an appropriate addition to the zone because the use possesses the same basic characteristics as the permitted uses in the zone.

C. That the use will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare.

D. That the use will not create more traffic, odor, dust, dirt, smoke, noise, vibration, glare, illumination, unsightliness, or any other objectionable influence than the amount normally created by any of the uses permitted in the zone.

86.02.115 Zoning walls.

A. “Zoning wall” means a required wall providing a relatively substantial separation of one land use from another more intensive or noxious land use.

B. A 10-foot high (or less) solid masonry zoning wall (or fence) may be required to be erected to separate any Commercial Zone or use from an adjoining Residential Zone or use as a condition precedent to granting of a special use permit, variance, coastal permit, or subdivision map. (Ord. 1717)

86.02.120 Determination of use.

A. A determination of whether a particular use is within the scope of permitted uses and allowable accessory uses in a particular zone shall constitute a “determination of use.”

B. A person with an interest in real property located within a particular zone who intends to develop such real property with a use not expressly allowed in such zone shall be entitled to apply to the Planning Commission for a determination of use.

C. Upon the making of the application and the payment of fees set by resolution of the City Council, the Planning Commission shall set a public hearing and publish notice at least 10 days prior to such hearing indicating the property, zone and particular use designated in the application.

D. The determination of use by the Planning Commission shall become final and thereafter control development within the particular zone unless the determination of use is appealed to the City Council in accordance with Chapter 1.12 CMC. (Ord. 2025 § 26, 2011; Ord. 1525; Ord. 1408)

86.02.124 Determination of development.

A. A determination of whether a particular project complies with the development standards applicable to the particular project shall constitute a “determination of development standards.”

B. A determination of development standards rendered by the Director of Community Development or authorized representative may be appealed to the Planning Commission for determination. The appeal must be filed within 10 calendar days of such determination.

C. Upon application, the Planning Commission shall make a determination of development standards which shall become final and thereafter govern the particular project unless the determination is appealed to the City Council in accordance with Chapter 1.12 CMC.

D. A determination of development standards shall not substitute for an application to the board of appeals for relief from applicable minimum construction standards prescribed by the Uniform Building Code. (Ord. 2025 § 28, 2011; Ord. 1525)

86.02.128 Interpretation.

A. When, in the opinion of the Director of Community Development, it becomes necessary for the City of Coronado to render an administrative interpretation of the provisions or terms of this title, the Director of Community Development may cause a noticed, public hearing to be conducted by the Planning Commission.

B. After hearing, the Planning Commission may render an interpretation which shall thereafter control development with the City unless an appeal is filed to the City Council with the City Clerk in accordance with Chapter 1.12 CMC. (Ord. 2025 § 30, 2011; Ord. 1525)

86.02.130 Lot size reduction.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no lot shall be reduced in size where the area of such lot is no greater than the minimum area required for a lot in the zone in which it is located except when such reduction results from partial acquisition for public use.

86.02.140 Repealed.

Repealed by Ord. 1809.

86.02.150 Repealed.

Repealed by Ord. 1809.

86.02.160 Coastal permit.

Except as otherwise expressly provided pursuant to other provisions of this title, no activity requiring a coastal permit (as explained in Chapter 86.70 CMC) shall be allowed to occur prior to coastal permit approval (including the expiration of all permit appeal deadlines) unless the City Manager (or his duly appointed agent) rules that an emergency situation exists that is an immediate significant threat to life, health or property, and that such preventive or ameliorative activities are necessary to adequately address the emergency situation. (Ord. 1534)

86.02.180 Fees and deposits.

Prior to the processing of any planning-related application, permit, plan check or other related service, the applicant shall pay to the City a fee/deposit equal to the estimated cost of processing said service. The City Council shall adopt by resolution a “planning fee schedule” to recover the cost for providing said planning-related services. The “planning fee schedule” shall list the “standard fee” (as provided for in Chapter 8.02 CMC) or the deposit amount in the amount that is estimated to be the reasonable cost borne by the City or its designated contractors for each service. The “planning fee schedule” may be revised from time to time by Council resolution. The “planning fee schedule” is on file in the Office of the City Clerk. (Ord. 1808)